The sun was peeking through the limbs of the stately fir trees when they drove up the driveway to Broadmoor.

“Thanks for swinging by my place so I could pick up a few things,” Selena said, shifting the small duffel bag on her lap.

“No problem.”

Although he would never admit it, she could tell he was exhausted. She’d seen him yawn a number of times. The few minutes he’d been exposed to the early morning UV rays had really taken their toll.

“Oh look,” she said, pointing at the lights on in front of the house. “The power is on. You stay here and I’ll open the garage.” No need for him to be in the sun any more than he already had been.

Once inside the house, he sunk to the couch. Even though he protested, she helped him remove his boots and tucked a blanket around him.

“Can I get you anything?”

“I’m not an invalid,” he growled.

“No, but you helped me, and because of that, you’re paying the price.” Selena went around the room, making sure all of the heavy draperies were secured. By the time she was finished, Mateo was fast asleep.

She grabbed a book from the shelf and sat at the other end of the couch near his feet, glad that she didn’t have any catering jobs for the next few days. One reason to be thankful for the slow season.

After reading the same sentence ten or fifteen times, she glanced over at Mateo. A thick strand of hair hung over his face, covering his eyes. Setting her book down, she moved closer, gently brushed it away, then kissed him lightly on the forehead. He looked so peaceful like this, all the worry gone. What she wouldn’t give to see him laughing like he used to. She got emotional thinking about how he’d come all this way to save her and ended up saving her again when she fell. She turned to sit down again, but his hand shot out and circled around her wrist.

Startled, she stifled a gasp. “Mateo?”

He mumbled something she couldn’t quite hear. Then he pulled her down on the couch with him, spooned her from behind, and started snoring.

She let out a long, slow exhale, loving the feel of his arms around her. And damn, he smelled good. Like cedar, sandalwood and man. As she reflected on what she’d learned about this dangerous, new-to-her world, she knew she should be afraid of him, but she wasn’t. On a deep, emotional level, she knew he’d never hurt her. What she did feel with him was safe and protected. A sense of belonging, like being at home. Something that, as she thought about it now, had been missing from her life for a long time.

It didn’t take long until she was fast asleep as well.

She hadn’t intended on taking anything longer than a cat nap, but she must have been more tired than she thought, because she woke hours later to the feel of his warm, broad hand covering her breast. From the sound of his breathing, he was still asleep. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept this soundly. Mmmm. So warm. So cuddly. Nestling in closer, she could feel his erection pressing against her. Was it still called morning wood when you woke in the afternoon instead?

The thought of him reaching for her in his sleep stirred a deep, aching need inside her. If she were in her bedroom right now, she’d take out her battery-operated toy and slip it between her legs to relieve this sweet, delicious pressure.

Mateo groaned. She couldn’t tell if he was waking up or if this was just a sleep noise.

“What are you doing?” His breath skimmed her ear, causing goosebumps to form up and down her arms.

“Sleeping. Same as you.”

He kept his hand in place, possessively cupping her breast. “Not the way you’re moving against me, I’m not.”

“Guess you should’ve thought about that first.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked, the sleep gone from his voice.

“You pulled me down and spooned me.”

He stiffened, removed his hand from under her shirt, and hurriedly brushed the hair from her neck. “Is that all I did?”

She turned in his arms to face him and saw the worry and concern lining his forehead. “You didn’t bite me, if that’s what you’re thinking. We slept. And it was nice.” She ran her hands along the hard plane of his chest. “But if you did bite me, I guess you didn’t kill me.”

She was trying to make a joke, but he was not amused. Pushing up on his elbow, he looked down at her. “This isn’t anything to fuck with, Selena. You have no idea what you’re dealing with. I can’t emphasize that enough.”

“My blood?”

Anger flashed in his dark eyes. “And your scent. And your taste. Everything about you. You are the perfect prey. And I am your predator.”

“Hmmm. Interesting.” She rose from the couch, hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her yoga pants, and carefully slid them down her legs.

“What are you doing?” he asked hoarsely. He ran a hand through his hair, making his bed head even more pronounced. Damn, he was hot.

“Hang on. I’ll show you.” She stepped out of her pants, turned around, and showed him the side of her leg. From hip to knee was a long, bloody scrape. “I got this ugly raspberry during my fall from the balcony. I tried to clean it up, but you can see how it’s bled a little since then.” She held up the heels of her hands. “Here too, although not quite as bad. So let me point out, in case you’ve forgotten, we’ve been together non-stop since this happened, and not once have you tried to attack me.”

Something glimmered in his eyes, something that looked like hope, then, just as quickly, it was gone. “That doesn’t prove anything,” he said.

She spread her hands imploringly. “Mateo, you didn’t even notice. Not when you kissed me in the car. Not when we slept. And if on some level you did notice, your so-called dark nature clearly didn’t give a crap.”

His brows were two dark slashes, his expression guarded. It was obvious she wasn’t getting through to him. Maybe the real reason he wasn’t interested in moving past this was because he wasn’t interested in her. A lot could happen in four years. People changed. Priorities changed. Couples fell in and out of love all the time. Maybe she should just let it go.

“I never stopped thinking about us,” she said softly, turning on her heel to leave the room, “even when I wanted so desperately to forget you.”

* * *

“Selena, wait.” He grabbed her arm, and her eyes widened. He searched their depths for signs of fear, but saw none. Only the pain of rejection. And behind that, desire. He imagined she saw the same things in his. His throat had tightened so much, he wasn’t even sure he could speak. So he didn’t.

Pulling her close, he kissed her hard and deep, her body molding to his. Although his gums ached where his fangs were hidden, they stayed where they belonged and didn’t descend. Maybe she was right. Maybe he could control himself. Her abrasions were bloody, so if his dark nature really were uncontrollable when it came to her, he’d have already attacked by now. And probably killed her.

Hope sprang in his chest, and he kissed her with renewed passion. Maybe a future together was possible.

A soft, feminine moan escaped her as they fell onto the couch. Without breaking the kiss, he undid his jeans and cursed against her lips when the zipper got stuck. He felt, rather than saw, her smile. By the time he got it unzipped and shoved his jeans past his hips, she’d already shimmied out of her thong. Yay, elastic. A man’s best friend.

Grabbing a condom from his wallet, he quickly sheathed himself. Although a vampire couldn’t get a human pregnant or transmit disease, he hadn’t told her that yet and he sure as hell wasn’t going to stop to explain it now. He always carried them anyway. Expecting that a woman he’d just met would be okay with him going bareback had douchebag written all over it.

Brain fogged with desire, he slipped a finger into her liquid heat. Damn. She was slick enough for him already. Her breath hitched as she arched her hips, giving him easier access. “Ah, yes. That’s perfect, baby.” Adding a second finger, he then brought his thumb up and rubbed her sensitive flesh, loving the sounds she made as she moaned into his mouth. She rocked against him seeking her release, her inner muscles starting to clench and pulse around his fingers. He pressed her clit harder.

“Oh my God, Mateo,” she said breathlessly, digging her fingers into his shoulders.

She was coming already. Having forgotten how quickly she responded to him, he smiled as he nuzzled and licked and kissed her.

When her spasms stopped, he slipped his fingers out, reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. While that orgasm had been beautiful, he planned to give her another, more powerful one. She looked at him quizzically, but said nothing when he turned her around, placed her hands on the arm of the sofa and grabbed onto her hips. Although she knew he was a vampire, he still didn’t want to frighten her in case his fangs emerged in the heat of the moment.

Cock throbbing, he positioned himself at her slick entrance and nudged just the tip inside. “You okay with this, baby?” He wanted her to know that she could change her mind.

She glanced over her shoulder, lips parted, eyes at half mast.

Tangles of dark curls splayed across her shoulders, inviting him to pull her hair. Thank you very much. I think I will. He ran a hand up the lovely curve of her spine and grabbed a handful of silky locks.

Her gaze met his, and she nodded.

“Say it.” Especially now that she knew the truth about him. After he left, he didn’t want her to look back and have any doubts that she wasn’t one hundred percent on board with this.

“Yes, Mateo,” she whispered softly. Then she added, “Please.”

Christ. He nearly lost it right then and there. He loved how she instinctively responded to his more dominant nature. He nudged her legs wider. Then in one thrust, he shoved into her impossibly tight channel.

* * *

A strangled cry escaped her throat as Mateo entered her from behind, filling her completely. He was bigger than she remembered. And thicker. She let out a long, ragged breath as her body adjusted to this incredible intrusion. Once inside her, he held himself still and nuzzled the back of her neck, giving her inner muscles a chance to accept him. She felt a surge of molten heat as the ache inside her grew. Even though she’d just climaxed, her body craved more from him.

He gave a low chuckle and pushed deeper, taking advantage of her additional lubrication. “That’s it. Take me all in, baby. You’re almost there.”

A delicious tension, starting in her fingers and toes, rushed inward toward her core and sought release. Without any more from him than this, she could almost, almost have another orgasm. She was right there on the edge. Good Lord, the man had a lot of self-control. More than she did. She rocked against him, ready for him to break her into pieces.

“Impatient little thing, aren’t you, Selena?” he growled into her hair. “You’ll come when I tell you to come.” Strong fingers dug into her hip bones, holding her right where he wanted. Her body trembled with eager anticipation.

His dominant nature was unapologetic, and although she’d never admit it aloud to him, deep inside, she secretly loved it. But unlike the Subs from the books she read, she would never completely give in to him. She liked the friction between them too much.

“Then how about this?” He withdrew until the ridge of his cock was pressed against her swollen, sensitive clit, and before she could answer, he drove into her with a force that tore another cry from her throat.

He thrust, hard and demanding, his pelvis slapping her ass with every stroke. Intoxicated with lust, she shifted slightly until the thick ridge of his erection was rubbing relentlessly against just the right spot.

He groaned. “Damn, Selena. You feel fucking amazing.”

“You…do…too.”

He reached around, one hand moving to her breast and one between her legs. She gave a soft moan as he twisted her nipple between his finger and thumb and did the same to her clit. Her release—it was right there. Please don’t stop.

“There you go,” he growled, as if he could read her thoughts. Shifting his hand from her breast, he grabbed a handful of her hair again and pulled. “Come for me, baby. And I want to hear you scream.”

It was if he’d pressed a button. Her feminine muscles clenched on their own around him, independent of anything she told them to do. Her body gladly surrendered to his demands.

“Yes, Mateo,” she gasped, fingers digging into the arm of the sofa. Oh hell, yes.

Something snapped then and a huge, thunderous orgasm slammed through her, making her scream. Successive waves of pleasure spiraled upward, setting off fireworks behind her eyelids, and every muscle spasmed. She’d never felt anything like this, not even when they’d been together before. Just when she thought her climax had peaked, Mateo groaned loudly and his whole body tensed behind her. Pulsing with his own release, his thick cock pushed against her inner walls and sent her impossibly higher.

When it was over, he didn’t pull out right away. They stayed in place like that, hearts pounding, skin slick with carnal sweat.

What had happened between them was nothing short of amazing. Although they’d been apart for years, she felt a more intense connection to him than she’d ever felt before.

“Damn, Mateo,” she said breathlessly. “That should be illegal.”

He pulled out of her then and discarded the condom. She turned, expecting him to react, to laugh, but instead his gaze didn’t meet hers.

The truth had drawn them together on a deeper, more powerful level. But she feared it would now only tear them apart.